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conforming with the laws of copyright. Whenever
possible, the M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives
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the legal determination ultimately rests with the researcher. Requests for permission
to publish material from this collection should be discussed with the Head
of Special Collections and Archives.

KAPPA DELTA SORORITY
ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY

The Kappa Delta Sorority is the successor to the Kappa Delta Society founded
at the New York State Normal College on June 16, 1897. The Kappa Delta
Society's purpose was to "promote social and literary advancement."

The constitution of the Kappa Delta Society stated that the object of
the Society was "the attainment toward culture among it's members."
By 1930 the sorority's goal changed to more contemporary "promotion of
fellowship among it's members." Sorority meetings were originally
held every other week. The minutes from 1924 show weekly meetings.
Records of the sorority's meetings were taken by the recording secretary,
then approved at the next meeting, and finally written as the minutes.

Kappa Delta was incorporated in Albany in April 1922. The
purpose of the Kappa Delta Corporation was to "promote fraternal, intellectual,
and social pursuits among its members and to oversee the sale and upkeep
of any property it may own." The corporation subsequently purchased
a sorority house at 380 Western Avenue which was occupied by the sorority
until it was sold to the College of St. Rose in the 1960's. The Corporation
continues to this day as the financial vehicle for administering Kappa
Delta funds which are used for alumni meetings and scholarships.

In the aftermath of the Vietnam War and the concurrent revolt against
traditional social structures, Kappa Delta was dissolved in the late fall
of 1979 or the early spring of 1980. The Alumni Newsletter indicates
that the dissolution was due to "little or no interest on campus in sororities."

KAPPA DELTA SORORITY
Scope and content note

Kappa Delta Sorority Records consist of approved meeting minutes compiled
in notebooks covering the whole existence of the sorority 1899-1902, 1924-1932,
1935-40, 1951-52, 1954-1975. The minutes are missing for 1903-1923,
1933-1934, 1941-1950, and the last few years, 1975-80. The records
also contain the original constitution (1898?) and the revised constitution
(1930-45); alumni newsletters, (1974-85), photographs, both individual
and group (1959-79); and realia including initiation headbands, paddles,
and a blazer, Lacking the minutes from the final years the researcher
is dependent on the Alumnae Newsletter for information about the demise
of the sorority. The minutes contain few accounts of sorority rituals.
The most prominent issues dealt with were socialization with fraternities,
community service, and rush and recruitment of new members. See the
Alumni Memorabilia Collection and the University Archives Photograph Collection
for other Kappa Delta material including a sorority pins, individual and
group photographs, dance cards, etc. Information about Kappa Delta
social and literary activities can be found in The Normal College Echo,
and its successors the State College News and the Albany Student Press.
The records of the Kappa Delta Sorority are divided into five series including
Minutes, 1999-1902, 1924-32, 1935-40, 1951-52, 1954-75; Subject Files,
Photographs, Publications, and Realia.

KAPPA DELTA SORORITY
Series Descriptions

The minutes of Kappa Delta detail activities such as social events,
rush, initiation lists, nomination of members and election of officers,
member lists, attendance of members at meetings, committee responsibilities
and discussion for changes in the Kappa Delta constitution. The minutes
for 1899-1902 include a copy of the Constitution for the sorority circa
1898. Beginning in 1964, amendments to the constitution became more
frequent and copies of the amendments were stapled into the minutes book.
Also included are notes for the minutes, 1967-1975.

The subject files contain initiation lists(1950-1979), correspondence
with the national organization of Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity (1919-1922)
in an effort to join the national fraternity, Kappa Delta traditions, information
on how to organize rush, a one-page history of the sorority taken from
the 1900 Neon, a family tree (1968-76) showing the relations between the
sisters of Kappa Delta, resolutions to the constitution, and a self-evaluation
survey and the responses to it. Also included in this series are
a videotape and guest register for the centennial reunion in 1997; and
a book of the Kappa Delta Constitution (1930 and 1940 versions) along with
membership lists for 1922-50. Initiation procedures and the process
of installing officers is written in the back of the volume. Arranged
in two subseries; one alphabetical, one chronological.

The Kappa Delta Alumnae Association Newsletter briefly relates what
the active chapter is doing. The newsletter also includes sorority
alumni by class year and briefly gives current information for each sister.
The newsletter also informs alumni of upcoming reunions. Arranged
chronologically.

Oversized group photographs of Kappa Delta Sorority (1955-1977), smaller composite
photographs of the sorority and candid photographs of sorority members (1956-57,
1968, 1974, 1976, 1979) taken at parties and other events. Arranged chronologically.

Scrapbooks include photographs, newspaper clippings, and other items
with notations under or next to the items. Some of the scrapbooks
are in poor condition. The covers are coming off and the adhesives
no longer work. Some information has been lost. Arranged by
size.

Items belonging to Kappa Delta such as a banner, a blanket, a Kappa
Delta blazer. Kappa Delta paddles, a pin, a mug, a picture frame used for
the photo of the sorority house, and other materials. Arranged
by size. Textile items are together.

Class: 1931
Description: THREE PHOTOGRAPHS OF PEOPLE IN THE CLASS OF 1931.
ONE PHOTO IS OF THE KAPPA DELTA HOUSE AT 380 WESTERN AVE. THE OTHER
TWO ARE PHOTOS OF MEMBERS OF KAPPA DELTA, INCLUDING EDITH CARNS, HELEN
HOWARD, DORIS MARKHAM, IRENE DICKENSON, CLAIRE PRINCE, AND MARGARET CUSSLER[?].
Donor: HELEN HOWARD PECKHAM
Date: 00/00/1931